Op-Ed: Walter Palmer is the American dentist named as the killer of Cecil, Zimbabwe's most famous lion.

Reports that he claims he thought he was on a 'legal' hunt will do little to appease the vast majority of people who oppose hunting for hunting's sake.

But this is a case of illegal poaching.

Palmer has tried to pass the buck down to 'hunt guides' who he hired to find a lion and get the necessary hunting permit but he may still face charges in Zimbabwe assuming he has the guts to return. He is thought to be back in the U.S.A.

He has said he will assist the authorities in Zimbabwe if and when he is contacted but added "Again, I deeply regret that my pursuit of an activity I love and practice responsibly and legally resulted in the taking of this lion."

But why does this presumably intelligent man need to get his kicks from pursuing and killing a majestic animal like a lion or any animal for that matter?

Wednesday Palmer has already felt the full and often cruel force of social media. He has closed his dental practice Facebook page following threats to himself and his family; some will be empty threats and made out of anger but others could be more serious.

Tuesday his dental practice in Bloomington Minnesota was also closed.

Seems Mr Palmer has become 'the hunted' and he is running scared.

Yesterday NEWTEKWORLDNEWS received a comment on a post aimed at reinforcing the Hunting Act of the UK. The comment says it all and can easily be applied to Mr Palmer. "Not acceptable on any level..This is not how we should treat our fellow creatures. If 'people want to kill something then sign a agreement and get in the 'arena' and have a go at each other...They won't do this because they are basically cowards and it would mean them putting themselves at risk."

Palmer did appear to want an easy hunt, one with all the odds stacked in his favour and one which bears little relation to hunting of the long distant past when man went up against beast for food and perhaps the animal had an advantage.

Maybe he should try hunting with a spear and on his own rather than using sophisticated weapons?

But in the end why kill such a creature in this day and age. He reportedly spent around $55,000 dollars which could surely have been better spent.

And Cecil did not die quickly.

Palmer shot Cecil with a crossbow, injuring the animal. The wounded lion was not found by the hunting party until 40 hours later. Cecil was then killed with a gun. Cecil's head was removed and his he was skinned.

But there will be more deaths.

"The six cubs of Cecil will now be killed by the new male lion in the pride, Johnny Rodrigues added, in order to encourage the lionesses to mate with him. “That’s how it works... it's in the wild. It's nature taking its course," he added."

Palmer then also has the death of six lion cubs on his hands.

His words that he did not know Cecil was a 'famous lion' have more than a hollow ring to them.

BBC News reports "Two Zimbabwean men - a professional hunter and a farm owner - have been charged with poaching offences because the group did not have a hunting permit. They could face up to 15 years in prison in Zimbabwe if they are found guilty. They are due to appear in court on Wednesday."

But like which came first the chicken or the egg, Palmer was a vital part of their kill for money. Had he not been keen to supply the money in his quest to kill another living occupant of planet earth they would not have acted?

With that in mind it seems only right that he is also punished and a strong message is sent out to other would-be foreign hunters travelling to Africa.

That of course may go against government policy if they want to encourage money spending tourists but surely it is time they made a stand and outlawed hunting as a 'sport' once and for all.

The number of lions continues to decline and it is not rocket science why.

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